Stapling machine



y 1940- A. v. M cDONALD 51' AL 2,202,259

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HERBERT ./5KE BY 56%; 54.

THE/2 ATTORNEY y 1940- A. v. MacDONALD ET AL 2,202,259

STAPLING MACHINE Filed NOV. 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOES AEL'H/EHLD k m mun/.0

EHYMOND Iq- MIN/(LE2 HEEBEZ T 1.5K E BY (5 THE/2 ATTORNEY y 23, 1940- A. v. MaDONALD El Al. ,259

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1936 3 sheets sheet 3 //VV/V7'0P5 ARCHB/ILD M MAC DONALD PHYMOND A- MIA/KL ER HERBERT lS/(E THE/E ATTORNEY Patented May 28, 1940 Archibald V.

er, Alhambra, Calif.

MacDonald and Raymond A. Los Angeles,

and Herbert Iske,

Application November 25, 1936, Serial No. 112,726

Claims.

Our invention relates to a machine for applying staples to sheet material, such as fibreboard; and the broad object of our invention is to provide a portable stapling machine having a self supported anvil for fastening together unsupported layers of sheet material such as overlapping sheets or flaps in a. packing box.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of our invention. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to this disclosure of species of our invention, as we may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a. hand operated stapling machine embodying our invention; and

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same with portions of the structure omitted to shorten the view.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the anvil arm, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure l. I

Figure 4 is a back view of the stapling unit looking in the direction of the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a front view of the stapling unit looking in the directionof the plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the stapling unit looking in the direction of arrow 6 in Figure 5. Figure 7 is an exploded side View of the unit on somewhat larger scale.

Figure 8 is a side view of the stapling unit in its normal upper position; and

Figure 9 is a similar view showing the guide elements lowered against the material to be stapled, and the driving plate ready to take down a staple; and

be stapled against the anvil arm, and means are provided for guiding the staple from the head frame to the material. In our machine the rigid connection between the anvil arm and the head frame provides a self supported anvil, against which the staples may be clinched, so that the machine may be used for fastening together unsupported layers of sheet material, such as the overlapping sheets or flaps in a packing case.

The head frame and anvil arm are preferably 10 elongated to provide a deep throat for receiving the sheet material, and the head frame is preferably shaped to provide a handle by which an operator may hold the machine. A manually operable lever is also provided on the head frame 15 for actuating the stapling mechanism. Ina variant form of construction, a solenoid is employed to actuate the mechanism.

In greater detail, and referring to Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings, the stapling machine em- 20 bodying our invention comprises a longitudinally split head frame I. This frame is in the nature of a narrow, elongated casing, comprising half portions secured together by suitable screws 2, and serves as a housing for the stapling mechanism. Since our machine is portable, and is an arm 6 rigidly connected to head frame I by pins 1 and bolts 8, and extending forwardly under the head frame to provide an elongated throat 9 for receiving the material to be stapled. By providing this deep throat the machine may be used 'to apply staples at a considerable distance inwardly from the edges of the material. The rigid connection between the anvil arm and head frame is also important, because it provides a self supporting anvil and enables the machine to be used for fastening together unsupported layers of sheet material, such as the overlapping sheets or flaps in a packing case.

The anvil arm 6 is also preferably aluminum, and if desired could be made integrally with the head frame. In order to give rigidity to this arm it is preferably channel shaped and. provided with a. reinforcing central flange II, as shown in 5 may be driven against anvil 5 without very much 5 form a grip 3o springing away from the head frame. The anvil is of the usual recessed construction and is preferably of hardened steel.

Means are provided in the head frame I for 5 holding a supply of staples, and means are also 7 provided for feeding the staples toward the stapling mechanism. The holding means preferably comprises a bar l3 extending longitudinally of the frame and over which a group of connected staples l4 may be straddled. Staple bar I3 is mounted on a plate I5 which closes the lower side of the head frame. Suitable screws l6 fasten the plate to the two halves of the head frame, and other screws i1 secure the staple bar to the plate.

The staple feeding means comprises a channel shaped element l8, also straddling the staple bar, for pushing the staples forwardly. A spring l9 connects with the staple pusher l8 and extends forwardly around a pulley 2i mounted in one half of the head frame. From this pulley the spring passes back through the hollow handle portion 4 of the frame and is fastened at the rear end of the frame to a pin 22.

A look is provided for the staple pusher when the latter is retracted for loading. For this purpose a lip 23 is formed on the pusher element l8 extending out through a longitudinal slot 24 in the frame. Lip 23 also functions as a handle for drawing back the pusher element, and when the latter is retracted this lip may be elevated into a notch 26 for locking the feeding mechanism. A flange 21 is also provided in the casing for holding the pusher element down while feeding the staples, and the rear end of this flange is cut back sufiiciently to allow the element [8 and its lip 23 to be lifted into engagement with the locking notch 26 when the pusher element is retracted.

ing the staples, and means are also provided for pressing the material to be stapled against the anvil and for guiding the staples from the head frame to the material. This mechanism is housed largely within a head 28 secured to the forward end of frame I by screws 29. The stapling unit is mounted for reciprocation vertically in the head, and is guided by grooves 31 cut in the inner side walls of the head. The reciprocating mechanism is important because it moves the staple down to meet the material on the fixed anvil. Also the downwardly moving stapling mechanism accommodates any springing movement in the anvil arm. The stapling mechanism follows any slight springing movement of the anvil arm; and the downward pressure of the driving mechanism and the reaction force in the anvil arm (due to any springing action) both cooperate to clinch the staple. As best shown in Figures 4 to 7, the stapling unit comprises a rectangular staple guiding element 32 having a groove 33 in which a staple driving plate 34 is slidable. Groove 33 therefore provides a guide both for a staple and the driving plate. As shown in Figure 1, the element 32 is slidable in the head guide 3| and is positioned in front of the staple bar I3 so that a staple is pushed against the element and into its guide groove 33 under the driving plate 34. Additional staple guide means is provided by a second element 3B slidable behind element 32 and having a rectangular aperture 31 for embracing the end of the staple bar I3. See Figures 1 and 8. The lower edge of this second element extends across the staple groove 33 and thus cooperates with Means are provided on the head frame for driv-.

the first element to provide a guide slot through which the staples pass. See Figure 6.

,The rear guide element 36 is pushed down by lugs 38 engaging under the edges of element 32; and element 36 is pulled up by a pin 39 engaging the lower edge of a slot 4| cut in the side of the staple driving plate 34. The reason for making the guide element 36 separately movable relative to element 32 is that the former embraces the end of the staple bar l3 and therefore cannot be pulled up as far as element 32 which is raised up past the staple bar for purposes of loading. The two elements, however, will come down together with their lower ends in register to form the guide slot when a staple is driven.

The lower end of the forward guide element 32 also has a flat base 42 which lies between lugs 38 and provides a pressure pad for pressing down on the material to be stapled when the stapling unit is lowered against the material.

The upper end of the staple driving plate is fastened between a pair of flat pieces 43 secured together by screws 44. The upper pieces are also slidable in the guides 3| of head 28. Connection between the upper end of driving plate 34 and guide element 32 is made by a rod 46 secured to an outturned flange 41 on the upper piece 43 and slidable through a similar flange 48 provided in element 32. A knurled adjusting nut 49 is threaded on the lower end of rod 46, and a spring 5| is compressed between the flanges.

By this arrangement the guide and hold down element 32 is mounted for movement with the staple driving plate 34, and, when element 32 comes-to rest on the material to be stapled, the spring 5| permits plate 34 to continue down to drive the staple. Since the staple guides are down when a staple is being driven, the staple is adequately guided from the time it leaves the staple bar 13 until it reaches the material. When the driving plate is completely down the rear piece 43 on the upper end of the plate comes to rest on the stop lug 52 on the rear guide element 36.

When the stapling unit is elevated the driving plate first comes up untilspring 5| is extended, after which the guide and hold down element 32 is raised. Guide element 36 stays down until its pin 39 is caught by the driving plate. When the stapling unit is completely elevated the lower edge of element 36 is adjacent the bottom" of the staple bar, as shown in Figure 1. In its normal upper position, the forward guide element 32 lies in front of the staple bar l3, as also shown in Figure 1. e

In order to reload the machine with staples the forward guide element 32 is moved up out of the way by turning the adjusting nut 49. A slot 53 is provided in the lower forward portions of the head to permit this adjustment and to provide an opening through which staples may be inserted over the end of the staple bar l3. In

reloading the machine, handle 51 is depressed to lower the stapling unit until adjusting screw 49 is opposite the slot opening 53. The screw is then turned to elevate plate 32 sufficiently so that, when handle 51 is released to elevate the unit, plate 32 will be raised enough to clear the end of staple bar I3. Staples may then be inserted through aperture 31 of plate 36 and slipped over the end of the bar. A plate 54 held by a screw 56 is provided to cover the opening 53 after the machine has been loaded. If desired the entire head may be removed by taking out screws 29, for purposes of reloading.

Means are provided for actuating the stapling unit. For this purpose a manually operable lever 51 may be provided, extending out through a slot 58 in the top of the frame I. Such a lever, as shown in Figure 1, is pivoted on a rod 59 extending across the casing, and is connected to depress an arm 6| also pivoted on rod 59 and carrying a pin 62 engaging a pair of slotted lugs 63 on the upper piece 43 of the stapling unit.

The connection between arm 6| and lever 51 is provided by the toggle links 64, one pivoted on' a rod 66 fixed in the casing and another pivoted to arm 6|. Other links 61 are connected between the operating lever 51 and the common pivot 68 of the toggle. In order to hold. the stapling mechanism inretracted position a tension spring 69 is provided between one of the links and a rod H fixed in the casing. By this arrangement the stapling unit is actuated to drive a staple each time the lever 51 is pushed back by the operator.

An electrically operated machine embodying our invention is shown in Figure 11. In this case the staples 14 are fed forwardly in a similar manner, and the stapling unit in the head 28 is the same as that shown in Figure 1. Instead of terminating in a manually operable lever however, the lever 'l3 extends into an extended upper portion 14 of the casing and is pivoted to the plunger I6 of a solenoid TI. The solenoid may be controlled by any suitable means, such as a push button switch 18 mounted on the head frame adjacent the handle 4. In this machine the plunger is driven back to operate the stapling mechanism when the solenoid is energized.

Another modification of our invention is shown in Figure 12. In this case the stapling mechanism in the head 28 is the same as that shown in Figure 1 except that separate means are provided for moving the guide and hold down element 32, and the yieldable connection between the latter and the staple driving plate 34 is omitted. The linkage for moving the staple driving plate is also the same, and is indicated by dotted lines in Figure 9 so as not to confuse the new linkage employed for separately actuating the element 32.

The new linkage comprises a bell crank 18 pivoted on a pin 8| supported by the rear side wall of the head frame. One arm of the bell crank has a slot 82 engaging the pin on lever 51,

and the other end engages a pin 83 on an arm 84 pivoted on rod 66. The latter arm is pivoted to a cam 85 mounted on a pin 86 also supported by the rear side wall of the head frame. Cam rides on an arm 81 pivoted on a cross rod 88 and held up against the cam by a spring 89, while the other end of arm 81 carries a pin 9| engaging slotted lugs 82 on the guide and hold down element 32.

The first actionof cam is to lower elements 32 and 36 against the material to be stapled. While the staple driving plate 34 is completing its operation, the circular part of the cam rides on arm 81. without further depressing it. By this construction the guide and hold down elements are positively held in depressed position, instead of being yieldably held as in Figure 1.

Following through a complete operation, the first partial depression of the handle moves lever 51 back to rotate bell crank 18 by reason of the lever pin sliding down along slot 82. Rotation of hell crank causes lever 84 to rotate backwards to turn cam 85. The latter thus depresses arm 81, lowering forward guide plate 32. When plate the position of the guide plates. As lever 51 con- I tinues moving back, the driving plate 34 presses the staple on through the material.

In this structure the loading of staples on bar I3 is preferably accomplished from the rear end of the machine in accordance with the usual and common practice of reloading stapling machines.

Another feature of our Figure 11, is that it may be converted into a tacking machine by removing the anvil arm. When such a machine is held against asurface, and the push button 18 pressed, the staple will be driven into the surface. In this case the staple serves as a double pointed tack. Also, the particular staple feeding means shown is merely for illustration, it being understood that the head may include means for making its own staples. Any known type of staple forming means may be used for this purpose.

We claim: a v

1. A stapling machine comprising a head frame, an anvil arm rigidly mounted on the head frame, a staple holding bar on the head frame, means for feeding the staples along the bar, a grooved element movably mounted on the head frame ahead of said bar for guiding a staple from the end of the bar to the material to be stapled, said element having a base for pressing against the material, means for moving the element against the material, an apertured element embracing the end of said bar and cooperating with the grooved element to provide a staple guide slot at the end of the latter element, and a plate slidable in the groove of said latter element for driving the staple thru said guide slot.

2. A stapling machine comprising a staple holding bar, an element movably mounted across the end of the bar for guiding staples from said bar, a plate for driving a staple along the guide element, means connecting the guide element for movement with the driving plate. and means for moving the guide element .to clear the end of said bar for loading new staples on the bar.

3. A stapling machine comprising a staple holding bar, an element movably mounted across the end of the bar for guiding staples from said bar, a plate for driving a staple along the guide element, means connecting the guide element for movement with the driving plate, a spring interposed in said connecting means, and means for moving the guide element against said spring to clear the end of said bar for loading new staples on the bar.

4. A stapling machine comprising a staple holding bar, a movable element for guiding a staple from the bar to the material to be stapled, a second element movable relative to the guide element and cooperating with the latter to provide a staple guide slot at the end of said guide element, means for moving said elements against the material, and a plate slidable along the guide element for driving the staple through said guide slot.

machine, especially re- 'lating to the electrically operated type shown in 5. A stapling machine comprising a staple ment, and a. plate slidable along the guide eleholding bar, an element for guiding a staple i rom ment for driving the staple through said guide the bar to the material to be stapled, an aperslot. tured element embracing an end of said bar and ARCHIBALD V, MACDONALD, cooperating with the guide element to provide RAYMOND A. MINKLER.

a staple guide slot at the end of the latter ele- I HERBERT ISKE. 

